Conveyer



April 14, 1942.

A. DE L. SINDEN CONVEYER Filed Feb. 23, 1940 I INVE NTOR.

ATTORNEY.

6N4.) camaqi Patented Apr. 14, 1942 CONVEYER Alfred'De Los Sinden,Aurora, 111., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Link-Belt Company,

Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February-23, 1940,Serial No. 320,246

13 Claims.

. others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in theconveyer and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations ofparts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims atthe end of this specification.

In the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention;Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section embody ng the presentinvention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in cross-section taken onthe line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

s Fig. 3 is a detail in side elevation showing one form of the conveyingelement embodied in the present conveyer; and Figs. 4 and 5 are similarviews showing modified forms thereof.

The present invention is preferably embodied in a conveyer of the typeparticularly adapted for use in conveying material of a free flowingnature and comprises a casing or conduit having a conveying elementadapted to be drawn the materialtherethrough. The conveying element maypreferably comprise a plurality of connected links and is provided witha plurality of through the casing to effectthe conveyance ofsubstantlally solid transverse flight members pivconveyers of this typeas heretofore constructed, the solid transversely extended flightmembers were arranged at right angles with respect to the casing throughwhich they weredrawn and this construction caused the contactingportions of the flights to jump or vibrate intermittently in a manneranalogous to the vibration set up by rubbing a finger across a windowpane, with the production of excessive noise and wear of the flightsthemselves and of the walls of the casing or conduit through which theywere drawn, particularly when the flightpassed through thehorizontallyextended portions of the conveyer.

In accordance with the present invention, these objectional features areeliminated by so con-. 7

otally attached thereto atspaced intervals. In

structing the pivotally mounted flight members that the contactingportions of the flights are disposed rearwardly with respect to thetravel of the conveying element instead of at right angles thereto sothat the flights may be drawn smoothly through the conduit without theproduction of vibration, noise and the resulting wear above referred to.

Referring now to the drawing, as shown in Fig. 1, the numeral Illrepresents a casing or conduit of general L shape, having a horizontallyextended leg l2, provided with an inlet I4, and a vertically extendedleg l6 having a discharge outlet IS. A conveying element, indicatedgenerally at 20, is arranged to be drawn through the conduit Ill over ahead sprocket 22, which latter may be driven through anyu'sual orpreferred mechanism, herein shown as comprising an electric motor 24connected to the drive shaft 26 .through a belt 28 and through gearing30, 32. The conveying element 20 preferably comprises a plurality ofconnected links-34, each being provided with an extended portion 36 towhich a substantially solid flight member 38 is pivotally or otherwiseconnected to suspend it in a position transversely of the casinglfl.Each flight member 38 is preferably of a size such as to nearly fill thecross-sectional area of the casing, and as shown in Fig. 2, each flightmay be provided with a slotted portion 40 to provide clearance for thelinks 34. I

In operation, material is supplied through the inlet M to the upper orreturn run 42 of the horizontally extended leg [2, and is carried overthe partition 44 to fall by gravity into the lower or working run 46 ofthe conveyer to be carried up through the vertical leg l6 and dischargedthrough the outlet 18. In passing from the upper run to the lower runthe conveying element passes over an idler sprocket 48 disposed at thedisposed at right angles thereto so that the contacting portions willdrag upon the casing and permit the flights to slide easily through thecasing and thus reduce to a minimum the tendencyf of the flights tovibrate, particularly when they pass through the horizontally extendedleg 12. As

illustrated in detail in Fig. 4, one form which the transverse flightmay take comprises a V. shaped flight having two wingportions-50,52,,inc1ined upper run 42 or the lower run 46 .theqportigns engaging thebottom of the runs will be rearwardly inclined with respect to thedirection of travel.

As will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 1, such construction alsofacilitates the discharge of the material from the flights when theyreach the discharge opening l8 since the material may flow off the wings50, 52 by gravity and through the discharge chute thus precluding thepossibility of carrying the material on the flights over the headsprocket and into the return run. Provision may also be made for tiltingtheflights adjacent the outlet if desired to provide additionalassurance of having the flights entirely free of material when they passthe outlet. Such means may comprise a stationary wedge shaped member 54fixed to the inner wall 56 of the conveyor and which is arranged toengage one edge of the flights as they pass by.

A modified form-of flight structure, as shown in Fig. 3, may comprise adish shaped flight having a wall 58 disposed at right angles to thecasing and having angular edges 60, '62 inclined rearwardly with respectto the direction of travel. As illustrated in Fig. 5, anothermodification may comprise a flight having two angularly disposedportions 64, 66 of unequal length. The longer portion 66 is preferablydisposed to engage the bottom of the lower run, so that when the flightis advanced and arrives adjacent the outlet l8, the longer portion willbe inclined in a direction to spill the material thereon directly intothe discharge chute.

From theabove description it will be observed that the presentconstruction of conveying element is capable of operation in asubstantially noiseless and vibrationless manner.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a conveyor, or the like, for transporting flowable solidmaterials, the combination with a flexible drive member, of a pluralityof substantially solid, rectangular flights spaced along said drivemember, and means extending for-' wardly of each flight and connectedthereto at a point intermediate its front and rear edges, in

, side of the chain, each of said flights comprisging -a plurality ofangularly arranged portions extending in opposite directions withrespect to the aforesaid pivot means and inclined rearwardly withrespect to the direction of force applied to the flight by said means,whereby the flights may be drawn over a horizontally arranged supportingsurface without jumping or vibrating and said inclined portions willdischarge material by gravity when the flights are unconfined whiletraveling a vertical path.

3. In a conveyer, or the like, for transporting flowable solidmaterials, the combination with a chain conveyer formed of articulatedlinks, of a substantially solid, rectangular flight for each link, andmeans extending forwardly of each flight and connected thereto at apoint intermediate its front and rear edges, in reference to the chainconveyer, for pivotally attaching the flight to its respective link ofthe chain with the flight projecting substantially from only one side ofthe chain, each of said flights comprising a plurality of portions ex- Itending to the front and rear edges of the flight which are inclinedrearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the flight and inopposite directions with respect to the point of connection of theaforesaid pivot means, whereby the flights may be drawn over ahorizontally arranged supporting surface without Jumping or vibratingand said inclined portions will discharge material by gravity when theflights are unconfined while traveling a vertical path.

4. In a conveyer, or the like, for transporting flowable solidmaterials, the combination with a flexible drive member, of a pluralityof sub- .stantially solid, rectangular flights spaced along said drivemember, and means extending forwardly of each flight and connectedthereto at a point intermediate its front and rear edges, in referenceto the flexible drive member, for pivotally attaching the flight to theflexible drive member, each of said flights comprising an intermediateportion, to which the aforesaid pivot means is attached, normallydisposed at right angles to the axis of the flexible drive member, andan edge portion inclined rearwardly 4 with respect to the plane of thesaid intermediate reference to the flexible drive member, for pivinopposite directions with respect to the aforesaid pivot means andinclined rearwardly with respect to the direction of force applied tothe flight by saidmeans, whereby the flights may be, drawn over ahorizontally arranged supporting surface-without jumping or vibratingand said inclined portions will discharge material by gravity when theflights are unconfined while traveling a vertical path.

2. In a conveyer, or the-like, for transporting flowable solidmaterials, the combination with a chain conveyer formed. of articulatedlinks, of a ubstantially solid, rectangular flight for each ;,and meansextending forwardly of each andconnected thereto at ,a pointinterconveyer, for pivotally attaching the flight its respective link ofthe chain with the flight projecting substantially from only oneportion, whereby the flights may be smoothly drawn over ahorizontallyarranged supporting surface with said edge portions contacting the same.i

5. In a conveyer, or the like, for transporting flowable solidmaterials, the combination with a flexible drive member, of a pluralityof substantially solid, rectangular flights spaced along said drivemember, and means extending forwardly of each flight and connectedthereto at a point intermediate its front and rear edges, in referenceto the flexible drive member, for pivotally attaching the flightto theflexible drive member, eachof said flights comprising an intermediateportion, to which the aforesaid pivot means, is attached, normallydisposed at right angles to the axis of the flexible drive member, andopposite edge portions inclined rearwardly with respect to the plane ofthe intermediate porattached to said drive member, each of said flightscomprising an intermediate portion dis-- flowable solid materials, thecombination with a flexible drive member, of a plurality ofsubstantially solid, rectangular flights spaced along and attached tosaid drive member, each of said flights comprising an intermediateportion disposed at right angles to the axis of the flexible drivemember, and opposite edge portions inclined rearwardly with respect tothe plane of the intermediate portion, whereby the flights may besmoothly drawn over a horizontally arranged supporting surface witheither of said edge portions contacting the same.

8. In a conveyer, or the like, for transporting flowable solidmaterials, the combination with a flexible drive member, of a pluralityof substantially solid. rectangular flights spaced along said drivemember, and means extending forwardly of each flight and connectedthereto at a point intermediate its front and rear edges in reference tothe flexible drive member, for pivotally .attaching the flight to theflexible drive member, each of said flights comprising two flat,rearwardly inclined portions which are angularly ar-- ranged withrespect to each other and with their line of connection passing throughthe point at which the aforesaid pivot means is connected to the flight,whereby the flights may be drawn over a horizontally arranged supportingsurface without jumping or vibrating and said inclined portions willdischarge material by gravity when the flights are unconfined whiletraveling a vertical Path.

9. In a conveyer, or the like, for transporting flowable solidmaterials, the combination with a flexible drive member, of a pluralityof substantiallysolid, rectangular flights spaced along said drivemember, and means extending forwardly of each flight and connectedthereto at a point intermediate its front and rear edges, in referenceto the flexible drive member, for pivotally attaching the flight to theflexible drive member, each of said flights comprising two flat,rearwardly inclined portions which are angularly arranged with respectto each other and with their line of connection lying to one side of thepoint at which the aforesaid pivot means is connected to flexible drivemember so that the flight will bear against said horizontal supportingsurfaces during the aforesaid travel of the drive member, each of saidflights having those portions which will engage said supporting surfacesinclined rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel thereof,whereby the flight may be drawn over said surfaces without jumping orvibrating.

'11. In a conveyer, or the like, for transporting flowable solidmaterials, the combination with a flexible drive member adapted totravel relative to a, horizontally arranged supporting surface, of aplurality of substantially solid, rectangular flights spaced along saiddrive member, and

means extending forwardly of each flight and rigidly connected theretoat a point intermediate its several edges for pivotally attaching therectangular flights substantially filling the cross the flight, wherebythe flights may be drawn over 7 nected thereto at a point intermediateits several edges for pivotally attaching the flight to the flight tothe flexible drive member so that the flight will bear against saidhorizontal supporting surface during the aforesaid travel-of the drivemember, each of said flights having that portion which will engage saidsupporting surface inclined rearwardly with respect to the direction oftravel thereof, whereby the flights may be drawn 'over said surfacewithout jumping or vibrating. v

12. In a conveyer, or the like, for transporting flowable solidmaterials, the combination with a chain conveyer adapted to be drawnover a horizontally arranged supporting urface and formed of articulatedlinks-with each link having an extension formed on its leading end andprojectin away from said supporting surface, of a substantially solid,rectangular flight for each link, each of said flights having a slotformed in one edge portion to accommodate its link, and means extendingforwardly of each flight and connected thereto for pivotally attachingthe flight to the extension of its respective link, each 'of saidflights having its edge portion which is provided with said slotinclined rearwardly with respect to the direction of force applied tothe flight by said means, whereby the flights may be drawn over the saidhorizontally arranged supporting surface, while unencumbered with theweight of the chain conveyer, without jumping or vibrating.

13. In a conveyer, or the like, for transporting flowable solidmaterials, the combination with a flexible drive member arrangedadjacent one margin of the path through which the material is moved bythe conveyer, of a plurality of solid,

sectional area of the said material path, and means extending forwardlyof each flight and connected thereto for "pivotally attaching theflightto theflexible drive member with the major portion of the flightprojecting substan-' tially from only one side of said member, each ofsaid flights having its said major portion inclined rearwardly withrespect to the direction of travel thereof, whereby the flights may be.drawn over a horizontally arranged supporting surface, with the outeredges of their said major portions engaging said surface, withoutjumping or vibrating and said inclined major portions may dischargematerial by' gravity when the flights are unconfined while traveling avertical path. ALFRED DE LQS SINDEN.

